The MAA is the Mathematical Association of American. The MAA is a professional organization for mathematicians and mathematics educators. The Student Chapters of the MAA provide mathematics and mathematics education students with support for independent research, and prvovides them with a forum in which to present talks on independent research, applications of mathematics, and mathematics history.
The student chapter of the MAA had been inactive at SHSU for some time. Dr. Julie Jones has resurrected the chapter, and recruited a co-advisor in Dr. Jackie Jensen. The chapter has recruited more than 10 members in the first year. Since SHSU was the site of the MAA Texas regional meeting in the Spring (April 3 - 5), we were enthusiastic about having so many active student members who will be giving talks at that meeting. Since that time we have taken student presenters to TX Section MAA meetings in Corpus Christi in the Spring 2004, Arlington in Spring 2005, and Wichita Falls in Spring 2006.
Several of the original members also expressed interest in attending and speaking at the MAA national meeting, MathFest. During the Summer of 2003, five SHSU MAA student members travelled to Boulder, Colorado to present papers. Since that time, students have attended and presented at the national meetings held in Providence, RI in Summer 2004; Albuquerque, NM in Summer 2005; and Knoxville, TN in Summer 2006.
Students have also attended the Joint Mathematics Meetings (the meetings of the MAA and the American Mathematical Society (AMS)), which happen in January of each year. So far, students have attended meetings and presented papers in Phoenix, AZ in 2004; Atlanta, GA in 2005; and San Antonio, TX in 2006. The 2007 meeting will be held in New Orleans, and we hope to have another delegation of students attending that meeting.
Topics for talks which have been presented at these meetings include coding theory, Weil's proof of Fermat's Last Theorem, Chinese mathematics history, magic squares, knot theory, knots and chemistry, Hispanic mathematicians, the history of Black women in mathematics, and many others. For a complete list, click here.
If you are interested in joining, please contact Dr. Jackie Jensen in 410 Lee Drain, or via e-mail at jensen@shsu.edu